Chapter 186
"Pervy Sage, that's so profound…"
"Hahahaha, of course it's profound. Even I, after living for fifty years, have no answers to these questions, and wouldn't even know where to begin looking…"
Naruto listened, half-understanding, but Jiraiyadidn't expect him to fully grasp it.
It's okay if he doesn't understand now… One day, perhaps even after Jiraiya's death, Naruto might occasionally recall this afternoon's conversation on the road, figure some things out, and thus make the right choices… That would be enough.
After listening to Jiraiya's long speech, Narutoactually felt much better.
"Pervy Sage! I understand. Although there are many bad things in this Ninja World, I, Sasuke, Hinata, and even everyone, bear pain and misfortune, but…"
"One day, we will find a way to change this world, and change our own destiny!"
Jiraiya laughed heartily: "Good, that's ambition!"
"Let's go, finding Tsunade is also a start!"
"Okay!"
…By the time Naruto and Jiraiya, one old and one young, returned to the inn, night had fallen, and it was late.
Naruto had encountered Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki. After an intense battle, although he shocked the two, he himself suffered heavy injuries.
Jiraiya stopped his bleeding and helped him recover some of his injuries.
Although he wasn't a medical Ninja, his experience was unmatched, and he could still treat injuries of this level.
Moreover, Naruto possessed the Uzumaki Clanphysique, with incredibly strong vitality and recovery. After Jiraiya's treatment, he quickly recovered most of his strength.
But even so, this day had been tough enough. Naruto forced himself to train for a while longer before quickly falling asleep.
The next day, Naruto started to worry.
He had promised the Pervy Sage to complete the training of the three Ninjutsu within three days!
Of course, if he couldn't complete it, it wouldn't matter much; at most, the Pervy Sage would tease him a bit.
But system big brother wouldn't show him any mercy!
If he failed to complete it in three days, he would inevitably suffer a lightning strike!
Yesterday's entire day was basically completely wasted.
He only trained for a while in the morning, and was soon interrupted by Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki.
Which meant… he only had two days left!
Mastering three Ninjutsu in two days!
And he also had to follow the Pervy Sage to find Tsunade!
This was simply an impossible mission… Narutowas extremely anxious. He hadn't felt this nervous and desperate in a long time… He didn't complain much, but immediately began his training.
He didn't even ask Jiraiya for help again.
Jiraiya smiled slightly and nodded.
"Naruto, you train well. I need to continue gathering information."
"You go quickly, Pervy Sage! Don't delay my training!"
"…What do you mean, delay?!"
"Forget it, forget it, I won't argue with you. With only two days left, I want to see how you complete three Ninjutsu, hahahahaha!"
Jiraiya waved his hand and left.
Naruto gritted his teeth and once again created Shadow Clones, and this time, it was an unprecedented… Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!
Although Naruto had mastered this Jutsu long ago, that was for combat. For training, he was still very cautious and generally wouldn't create too many Shadow Clones.
But this time, with the situation urgent, he couldn't worry about such things!
Hundreds of Shadow Clones simultaneously began their training!
Some continued to practice Wind Release Vacuum Sword, some practiced Summoning Technique, some practiced Rasengan… Naruto quickly discovered that the seemingly simplest Rasenganwas actually the most difficult to complete.
He had quickly completed the first stage yesterday, which was to burst water balloons with Chakra.
But today's second stage, bursting rubber balls that were a hundred times tougher, was truly even more difficult!
Naruto could only try his best, training tirelessly as if his life depended on it.
Soon, the entire training ground was filled with Naruto's shouts, roars, and gasps… "Wind Release: Vacuum Sword!"
"Summoning Technique!"
"Rasengan!"
"Phew… Damn, I'm exhausted…"
"Continue!!!"
…Just as Naruto was training desperately.
Under the guidance of fate, the Legendary Sannin were slowly converging in Tanzaku Town at the same time.
"Hmm?!"
In the busiest and most lively casino in Tanzaku Town, a crisp bell suddenly rang out.
"Congratulations to our esteemed guest, you've won the jackpot!"
A round of excited voices erupted, and many gamblers cast envious glances.
Shizune, holding Tonton, couldn't help but exclaim, then was overjoyed!
"Lady Tsunade! You actually won the jackpot!"
"This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime event!"
Tonton: "Hmph hmph!"
Tsunade's expression, however, was not as joyful as Shizune had expected. Instead, she frowned deeply.
"What's going on?"
Soon, in confusion and unease, Tsunade continued to spin the slot machine. Quickly, three sevens appeared simultaneously again, and the pleasant bell rang once more… Shizune was dumbfounded: "She… she won again!"
"What's going on today?!"
"You, who are known as the legendary big spender, actually won the jackpot twice in a row?!"
Tsunade's face, however, grew even uglier.
"I don't know why, but I have an ominous premonition…"
"Let's go, Shizune."
Even with her gambling spirit high and her luck running hot, Tsunade immediately stopped.
This was completely out of character for her.
Although Shizune was a bit confused, she still immediately followed, holding Tonton.
"Wait for me, Lady Tsunade!"
"Oink!"
At the same time.
On the city walls of Tanzaku Town, the figures of two other people appeared.
"Orochimaru, even if you promised Danzo to stop Tsunade from returning to Konoha, what do you plan to do?"
Orochimaru gave a sinister smile.
"There are many ways, but there's no need to think too much."
"Just find Tsunade and adapt as we go."
"Tsunade herself never intended to become Hokage. The real key person is actually Jiraiya…"
Yakushi Kabuto understood his meaning and nodded, saying: "Then, why don't we just go directly to Jiraiya?"
"If we just take him out, Tsunade won't even know about this."
Orochimaru approved: "Yakushi Kabuto, you are indeed clever…"
"If I can find Jiraiya, I certainly wouldn't mind doing that."
"That idiot stopped my Konoha Crush Plan before, and I've been meaning to settle the score with him."
"Let's go. I have a feeling both of them are in this Tanzaku Town…"
"Yes, Orochimaru!"
On the other side.
"Is that so? Tsunade lost a lot of money here?"
Jiraiya frowned.
A gambler said proudly: "That's right! The legendary big spender truly lives up to her name!"
"My luck was terrible, but I still won a lot from her. I'm truly grateful!"
Jiraiya immediately asked: "Do you know where she went afterwards?"
"I don't know that, but she probably just kept gambling, because I remember her saying at the time that the feng shui of this casino was bad, causing her to keep losing, so she wanted to switch to another one…"
"Hahahahaha, actually, her own luck was just bad, why blame the casino?!"
Jiraiya nodded: "Thanks."
He immediately rushed to the next casino.
"Without a doubt, Tsunade should be here, but I have an ominous premonition…"
"Even if I can find her, it seems getting her to willingly return to Konoha and succeed as Hokagewill be anything but easy…"
Jiraiya searched meticulously for an entire day.
However, he still didn't encounter Tsunade.
The threads of fate brought the Sannin to this place, but the moment of their convergence had not yet arrived.
Jiraiya worked tirelessly all day, finally dragging his exhausted body back to the inn.
He saw that Naruto was still training in the small garden behind the inn… However, at this moment, his face was pale and bloodless. Hundreds of Shadow Clones had long since been unable to sustain themselves, with most having disappeared, and the remaining ones were all gasping for breath, pushed beyond their limits… Jiraiya's heart tightened!
He knew the risks of Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu; once Chakra was depleted, it could even endanger one's life!
"Naruto! That's enough!"
Jiraiya immediately stopped him in a deep voice.
Naruto was panting heavily, glancing back, but he didn't stop.
"No, I'm still far from done…"
"I… I still couldn't burst the rubber ball…"